Top Chef DC

The D.C. season of Top Chef began filming today, and rumors are flying around the city like Hung Huynh with a hot pan through a crowded kitchen. DCist foodie Alicia Mazzara spied people in white coats on the roof of the Newseum, where unconfirmed reports place today's Top Chef taping. She passes along this photo as evidence, and she and others saw several passenger vans and rental trucks parked outside the Newseum. What do you bet Wolfgang Puck is serving as a guest judge?

One event that is not a rumor: Top Chef D.C. will be feeding the interns, according to a DCist tipster. On Tuesday, April 12, Top Chef will tape a lunch-time episode in which the cheftestants will feed interns from organizations like the Center for American Progress. (Location undisclosed.) As Matthew Yglesias notes, unpaid internships (unlike those at CAP) are the rock upon which the federal city is built, so it seems just that someone is giving interns something to eat.

A taping event at the Newseum and another for interns bring to mind a recent debate over at the Internet Food Association (of which I am an Associate). How D.C. is Top Chef D.C.? No doubt we will see an episode at one of José Andrés's establishments and some challenge featuring produce from the White House farmers market. Do you imagine that Tom Colicchio and company will slice into the deeply delicious pie that is life in D.C., or will they settle for the crumbs of the federal crust?

Re: Top Chef Season 7 - News & Speculation (Possible Spoilers)

The first tip-off this was no ordinary cocktail party: the start time, 12:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. But hey, we'll roll with that.

The second tip-off: Outside Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue, we found what seemed to be all of Washington's cocktail circuit, under-40 division, waiting in the hot sun, dressed to the nines and fanning themselves with -- what's that piece of paper?

A five-page, single-spaced, small-type contract you had to sign to attend a taping of "Top Chef," Washington edition.

Have fun, guys -- see you on TV. D.C.'s cocktail circuit, waivers in hand, lines up for the "Top Chef" made-for-TV party at Mellon Auditorium. (Amy Argetsinger/The Washington Post)Bravo's hit cooking-competition series has landed in D.C. to film a season that could air as soon as this summer, but a no-spoilers culture of secrecy surrounds. We arrived at the made-for-TV party hoping to chow down on the results of a gourmet challenge; instead, we got handed the contract by a production-team member who turned out to be Nicole Boxer, daughter of Sen. Barbara Boxer. Now let's see...

Aware of the risks of bad shellfish or undercooked food? Check.

Agree to be filmed and have our images edited, reproduced and broadcast in any way producers see fit? Sure!

Promise not to run for public office in the next year? Yep.

Promise not to rig the competition? Agreed.

Vow not to reveal anything that happens at the cocktail party? Uh -- we're reporters!

And so our "Top Chef" adventure had come to an abrupt end. Our contract unsigned, we turned to leave... and walked right past judge Tom Colicchio, heading into a side door with Eric Ripert, silver-fox celeb chef of NYC's Le Bernadin and D.C.'s Westend Bistro. And then host Padma Lakshmi, in a clingy moss-green dress, shielding herself from the sun's burning rays with a red parasol. In her small entourage, a strapping young man hauling a wicker bassinet -- is that her newborn in there?

Re: Top Chef Season 7 - News & Speculation (Possible Spoilers)

The above image was submitted by DCist reader Megan Griffin. We've all heard that the local Top Chef contestants have been doing their shopping at the Silver Spring Whole Foods. During Megan's recent visit to the store, she noted a sign that said "Magical Elves Productions (Top Chef's production company) was taping something called 'The Mission.'" Inside, she spotted a number of lights and TV cameras, and several people in line buying enormous quantities of food.

Can you identify the possible cheftestant pictured? Could she one of the D.C.-based contestants we've heard are competing? Too bad she looks a little flustered. Is she coming in over budget?

Re: Top Chef Season 7 - News & Speculation (Possible Spoilers)

Fun link in Washingtonian magazine -- the comments report lots of sightings around town. Who knows how reliable! That Farrah Olivia location is part of the Balducci's where I shop regularly, so maybe I'll encounter some filming.